Ruled by the Blaze (The Unwanted Marriage)

PATRICIA'S POV (Changed)

I can't believe that I will experience the satisfaction now that I longed for before.

I am successful now. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano ko napagsasabay ang mga bagay na gusto kong gawin.

Weekend ngayon kaya sarado ang clinic. It's supposed to be my rest day today but I chose to find out from Jess the update on the land I want to buy.

"Why don't you just gave me the contact number of the owner so we can negotiate, Jess?!"

Halos dumiin ang hawak ko sa cellphone habang kausap ko siya.

I frustratingly throw a feet when she started with her bubbliness again. Gusto kong kunin ang number no'ng may ari ng lupa na gusto kong bilhin. She already send me the picture of the land and I love it, so I want to buy that immediately. "Let's meet at the coffee shop!"

Napairap ako sa sinabi niya. "Really, Jess? Number lang ng owner ang hinihingi ko. Bakit kailangan pa natin magkita?"

She laughed. "I'm sure you're already rolling your eyes! You didn't miss me? Let's just have a quick chit chats about our frustrating works!"

I ended the call.

Fine, she won again!

Naligo na ako at nag bihis bago dumiretso sa sinasabi niya'ng café. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit ganito siya. It feels like she's always excited over something.

-

"You can't really resists my charm!" Jess welcomed me with a hug.

Suminghap ako bago umupo sa isang table. Narinig ko siya'ng nag order bago bumaling sa'kin.

"Kamusta ang clinic? Stressing?"

"Stressing but I was happy though,"

She started pressing on her phone. "You know what? I also intend to build a clinic! It's just small, not like yours,"

"Oh, that's great!" I uttered. "When do you plan?"

Alam ko na pareho naming pinangarap noon na magkaroon ng sariling clinic. I'm happy that she can fulfill hers now.

"I'm still planning but I will inform you once it's finalized though,"

Dumating ang order namin at halos napasarap kami ni Jess sa pag-uusap. Nakalimutan ko na ang sadya ko sa kanya ngayon.

I extend my hand in front of her.

"Where's the contact number of the owner by the way?" I raised a brow. "We're almost an hour here, Jess!"

She smiled patiently. "Oh, sorry..."

She has this wicked smile while pressing on her phone. I don't like it. She took my cellphone and registered the number herself. "Thank you. I also want to meet him today, I still have free time," I said and immediately texted the owner if he was free today. "Saan mo naman siya kikitain? Dito sa café?" maarteng niya'ng tanong.

Tumango naman ako. "What's wrong? Mag-uusap lang naman kami tungkol sa lupa,"

She twirled her tongue. "Mas maganda siguro kung sa restaurant? Para diretso lunch na kayong dalawa?"

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Lalaki ang may-ari ng lupa di 'ba? Ayaw ko ng issue. Baka may makakita sa'min doon at iba ang isipin-"

"Don't worry, he's single!" she giggled.

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Bakit ang dami mo namang alam tungkol sa kanya? Where did you meet him? Are you sure we can trust him?"

She gasped dramatically. "I recommend him to you because I trust him, Patricia! He's a good man,"

Tumango na lang ako pero parang may kakaiba talaga sa kanya. But I still set aside a few minutes for Jess.

"Nalaman ko na hinatid ka pala ni Callum no'ng nag bar tayo!" she opened another topic again. "Grabe, I didn't expect that! Kaya ka pala nawala!"

I frowned. "I don't even know that he's there, okay? But we didn't talk,"

"Sobrang successful niya na ngayon, no?" bigla niya'ng sabi.

"Hindi ko alam. Hindi naman ako updated sa buhay niya at wala ako'ng pakialam,"

She bit her lip. "Well, alam mo na ba ang nangyari sa daddy ni Raven Laurier?"

My frown disappeared and eyes lit up when I remembered Raven. "Oh, how is he? I don't know anything about him now!"

Inilapit ko ang mukha ko sa kanya at hinihintay ang sasabihin niya tungkol kay Raven. Why did I forget about Raven? "Wait, you still don't know?"

"Ang alin ba?" inis kong sabi. "Mommy doesn't update me on such things,"

Saglit siya'ng napaisip. "Well...Raven's father, Julio Laurier is already in prison,"

My eyes widened and jaw dropped.

I waited for what she would say next to see if she was just joking but no!

"Are you kidding?" I gasped dramatically.

She shook her head. "I'm not. He's been in prison for seven years now..."

Seven years. It's been also seven years since I came back here, does it mean...

"Nakulong siya isang buwan pagkatapos mong umalis dito," seryosong sabi ni Jess. "Somehow, I witness how Callum become miserable when you left but then, he still able to throw Laurier in jail. It's been hard to him to deal with his guilt so he did everything..."

Parang umakyat lahat ng dugo ko sa ulo at pakiramdam na binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig. The seriousness in Jess's eyes made me nervous. She's telling the truth. But...how?

Paano 'yon ginawa ni Callum? Akala ko ba hindi sapat ang mga ebidensya niya? P-Paano niya naipakulong si Mr. Laurier? Ano'ng ginawa niya?

"May nakalap na ebidensya si Callum. It's an audio clip regarding Mr. Laurier's revelation that he was the mastermind of the ambush you were involved in,"

I covered my mouth out of shocked.

"That's what motivates him to put Laurier in jail. He was thinking about...your trauma in that incident at some point. He also thinks that one of the reasons why you left him is because he didn't do anything...when you had an accident," Paulit-ulit ako'ng umiling.

Of course, it's not about that! I left him because he cheated on me and he's the reason why our child died! I despise him because of that but I eventually forgive him.

"You know, Laurier's are also powerful..." Jess continued. "So somehow, not everything was got easy for Callum. When he filed evidence against Mr. Laurier, he started receiving death threats. He even got shot while he's heading home-" "What?!" I can't stop asking. I was already breathing heavily.

H-He got shot?

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"It's true that he got shot ng by one of Mr. Laurier's men. You know greedy and evil people like him loves revenge-"

"What happened, then?" my lips trembled. "How did he escape there? What happened after?"

Kita ko ang alinlangan ni Jess. Hindi ko alam kung bakit matinding takot at pag-aalala ang bumalot sa puso ko kahit nangyari na 'yon. Bakit walang sinabi tungkol dito sila mommy? Dahil ba ayaw na nilang maalala ko si Callum?

"He got hospitalized. It takes weeks before he recovers," she looked at my eyes. "Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin sayo lahat pero...nagkagulo ang pamilya nila. Bumagsak ang kompanya nila, Pat,"

For the second time, my jaw dropped again. I can't explain the astonished I feel right now. One of the most well-known companies here in the Philippines has turned down? How did that happen?

"T-That's impossible..." nanginig ang boses ko. "Magaling sila at mayaman-"

"Yes, but Callum is the one handling the company, right? When you two broke up, he became irresponsible at work and when you left, he became even worse," she sighed. "But don't worry, they have recovered and Callum realized what he had done. Siya rin ang umayos ng gusot niya,"

Nanikip ang dibdib ko. Mariin ako'ng pumikit at pinigilan ang nangingilid kong luha. I don't want to show Jess that I'm affected by what she said about Callum but I can't help it! My heart is aching for him.

Hindi ko kaya iproseso lahat ng sinabi niya, parang sasabog ang ulo ko.

Why do I suddenly feel guilty? Kung hindi ko ba siya hiniwalayan at pinatawad na lang...aabot kaya sa ganoon ang mangyayari? That would be no. Maybe he didn't get shot because I was there to stop him from making bad decision. Their company... it shouldn't turned down.

At some point, I see half myself in what Callum has done. I am also responsible for that.

"Uh...Pat? Sorry, ang daldal ko" usal ni Jess. "Hindi ko naman nasabi 'yon para maguilty ka. Past na 'yon-"

"His parents must be blaming me," hindi ko maitago ang pait sa boses ko.

Umawang ang labi ni Jess. "N-No, why are you saying that? They're not, okay? It's Callum's fault to be irresponsible!"

I bit my lower lip when hot tears flowed down my cheeks. Hindi ko na napigilan. It's hard to pretend.

Naramdaman ko ang pag lapat ni Jess ng tissue sa mukha ko. She's wiping my tears.

"Don't cry, please" she said in a soft tone. "Sorry, let's changed out topic, then..."

Pinunasan ko ang sariling luha at nakinig na lang sa ibang sinasabi ni Jess. Naramdaman kong nag vibrate ang cellphone ko at nakitang nag reply na ang may ari ng lupa. He said that he's also free today.

"Tungkol nga pala sa mga paintings mo na gusto ibenta, kailan mo balak? May connection ang pinsan ko roon sa art gallery. Pwede niya ibida ang mga paintings mo dahil magaganda naman!" Nag pantig ang tenga ko sa sinabi ni Jess. "Talaga?"

"Yup. Maraming pupunta roon next week, to look for beautiful paintings so it's your opportunity..."

"O-Okay. Next week ipapadala ko ang mga paintings ko," sagot ko ngunit ang mata ay nasa cellphone.

Nag reply ako sa owner ng lupa na magkita kami sa isang restaurant malapit lang dito. Tama nga si Jess. Doon ko na lang siya kitain, tanghali na rin kasi so it's already lunch.

"I already texted the owner about the location for our meet up. So...let's see each other next time?" Ngumisi siya. "Okay, just enjoy!"

Nag paalam na kami sa isa't isa at sabay lumabas sa café. Dumiretso sa restaurant at nag reserve ng table. "Oh, shit!"

Halos sabunutan ko ang sarili dahil nakalimutan kong itanong kay Jess ang pangalan ng owner. How dumb, Patricia.

Nag text na lang ako kung ano'ng table ang pupuntahan niya. Malalaman ko rin naman ang pangalan niya kapag nag usap na kami. Inayos ko ang suot na dress at ipinahinga ang nakalugay na buhok sa kaliwang balikat. I'm so excited to buy that land.

Inaliw ko muna ang sarili sa pag-iisip kung ano'ng magandang ipinta sa susunod kong free time nang may isang pigura ang tumigil sa harapan ako. Hindi pa ako nakakpag-angat ng tingin pero amoy ko na ang pamilyar na pabango. I slowly looked up and I met a familiar piercing eyes.

If you're loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Nanlaki ang mata ko... samantalang hindi ko siya nakitaan ng gulat o kahit ano'ng reaksyon. He's just standing seriously. Wearing a very familiar polo shirt and jeans. It's him again. Callum...

Pinanood ko siya'ng umupo sa harap ko na para bang hindi nagtataka na ako ang kaharap niya. Siya ang may ari ng lupa? At hindi sinabi sa'kin ni Jess?!

"So...are we going to talk about my land that you want to buy, or you just going to watch me like that?"

Sumandal siya sa upuan bago ako tinitigan. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay na nagpanginig sa tuhod ko.

I gulped nervously and averted my gaze. My chest started throbbing so fast now.

"B-Bakit ikaw?" my voice trembled.

Nag-iinit na ang sulok ng mata ko sa halo-halong emosyon. Seeing him now, I remembered what Jess said about what happened to him when I left. I can't face him now.

"Are you expecting someone?" he mocked. "Dala ko ang titulo ng lupa ngayon-"

"N-No, thanks. Hindi ko na bibilhin ang lupa..."

Umawang ang labi niya.

Mabilis ako'ng tumayo at lumakad palayo. The moment I go out the restaurant, a fresh tears immediately rolled down to my face.

Guilt enveloped all over my body. Hindi ko na siya matignan sa mata ngayon. Kung sa nagdaan na taon ay galit ako sa kanya, ngayon ay hindi ko na magawa. Parang hinihiwa ang puso ko kapag iniisip ang nangyari sa kanya. "Patricia!" a baritone voice called me.

I turned around and saw Callum.

Binilisan ko ang lakad hanggang sa parking. Nanginginig pa ang kamay kong binubuksan ang pinto ng sasakyan ko pero nilamon na ng mga yabag niya ang pandinig ko.

Mainit na kamay ang humawak sa braso ko at pinihit ako paharap.

"What's wrong with you-"

His words cut off when he saw me crying. His hand on me loosen as I tried to distance myself from him.

Nakayuko ako habang nanginginig ang balikat. Hindi ko siya kayang tignan sa mata. The way he acted right now is different. Naisip ko bigla si Jess. Did she plan this? Na magkita kami ni Callum?

"I-I changed my mind," I almost whispered. "S-Sorry but, I'm not interested with the land anymore-"

"Why the hell are you crying?" he said coldly. "I thought you badly want it?"

The way he talked to me right now is really different than before. Parang may tumutusok sa dibdib ko sa sobrang sakit.

"Jess fooled me. She didn't say that you're the owner-"

"What's the issue of me being the owner?"

Natigilan ako. His attitude scream rudeness.

Walang ano-ano ay pumasok na ako sa sasakyan. He knocked few times but I drove away. I feel like I'm in some sort of a movie right now. Crying while driving.

Is he already moved on?

How funny that I need to asked that to myself. Of course, he already did, Patricia! That's why he's so rude towards you and treat you stranger!

Is he taking revenge on me? Dahil sa mga nangyari sa kanya? That's why he's acting so cold and rude?

Do I deserve that?